Prince William Reveals Shocking Details About the Death Of his Mother & His Mental Health as he Covers British GQ Magazine

The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, has spoken candidly about his mother’s death in his most honest interview ever as he stars in a heartwarming shoot at home with his wife, Kate Middleton and their cute kids, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte.

The royal father-of-two, who is British GQ magazine‘s cover star, opens up about family life, how he wished his late mother, Princess Diana could have met Kate and the children and how it’s taken him 20 years to come to terms with her death.

As part of the ongoing “Heads Together” campaign, William, also spoke about his mental health and discussed the death of his mother with GQ‘s Alastair Campbell, a mental health campaigner, who shares a common cause to tackle the taboo around mental health.

William says his grief is different to other people’s because ‘everyone knows the story’, adding that he wishes his mum, who was killed in a tragic car accident in 1997 when he was 15, was around to watch his children grow up and says he will ‘fight’ for them to have a normal life.

Read some selected extracts from the interview below:

Prince William on the imminent 20th anniversary of the death of his mother, Princess of Wales

I am in a better place about it than I have been for a long time, where I can talk about her more openly, talk about her more honestly, and I can remember her better, and publicly talk about her better.

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It has taken me almost 20 years to get to that stage. I still find it difficult now because at the time it was so raw. And also it is not like most people’s grief, because everyone else knows about it, everyone knows the story, everyone knows her. It is a different situation for most people who lose someone they love, it can be hidden away or they can choose if they want to share their story.

Prince William on missing his mother Diana

I would like to have had her advice. I would love her to have met Catherine and to have seen the children grow up. It makes me sad that she won’t, that they will never know her.

Prince William on the importance of family

I could not do my job without the stability of the family. Stability at home is so important to me. I want to bring up my children in a happy, stable, secure world and that is so important to both of us as parents.

I want George to grow up in a real, living environment, I don’t want him growing up behind palace walls, he has to be out there. The media make it harder but I will fight for them to have a normal life.

Prince William reveals the ultimate goal of the Heads Together campaign

Smashing the taboo is our biggest aim. We cannot go anywhere much until that is done. People can’t access services till they feel less ashamed, so we must tackle the taboo, the stigma, for goodness sake, this is the 21st century.

I have been really shocked how many people live in fear and in silence because of their mental illness. I just don’t understand it. I know I come across as quite reserved and shy, I don’t always have my emotions brewing, but behind closed doors I think about the issues, I get very passionate about things. I rely on people around me for opinions, and I am a great believer in communication on these issues.

I cannot understand how families, even behind closed doors, still find it so hard to talk about it. I am shocked we are so worried about saying anything about the true feelings we have. Because mental illness is inside our heads, invisible, it means others tread so carefully, and people don’t know what to say, whereas if you have a broken leg in plaster, everyone knows what to say.

Photo credit: GQ Magazine